Manchester United Rumours Archive February 20 2013

20 Feb 2013 13:14:26
hey Ed, Was just wondering I have been hearing a lot of reports and reading a lot of speculation that Sir Alex will offer 36M for James Rodriguez in the Summer with Nani going the other way. Is there any thing solid about this news? {Ed002's Note - You want to ignore anything you hear with numbers in it. An offer of £36M would be enough to buy him I would expect.}

Yeeeee

Why don't u get gaiton good player and cheaper than rodreged from an everton fan

He is what we need a goalscoring and midfielder

20 Feb 2013 09:29:31
Hello ed 002.
News surfacing from last week or so that di maria's agent is offering him on behalf of madrid. Now please share your thoughts on most likely destination with the fact that we need a left footed winger to replace giggs and probably nani or young or valancia. And I certainly knowbthat u don't like money talks but if u can just give rough idea of amount involved

Rodio17 {Ed002's Note - I cannot say "most likely" and it is certainly best to avoid speculation on money as it serves to confuses football fans, but Di Maria has been offered for sale to PSG as part of a package with another Real Madrid player. I would think he could also be used as bait for either Bale or Silva.}

Dont tell me that other player is Ronaldo Ed please? He should be back here.

Dan {Ed002's Note - No. If Manchester United want Ronaldo it is very clear what they need to do.}

Ed002, I know you usually do not like to go into figures so I won't, but in your opinion do you think Ronaldo would cost more than what we sold him for, or less?

In your opinion, thanks.

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - Real Madrid would want his "release clause" (not a "buy out" clause) met. So €100M.}

That's £80m! No idea we could get him for that thanks Ed! Has to happen!
Out: Vidic - 20m
Ando - 10m
Nani - 15m

In: Ronnie - 80m
Strootman/Veratti - 15m - 20m

that's a net spend of 50-55m and should be achievable.

LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Ed002, so it's slightly more than we "apparently" accepted from them. I can see what you mean now when you say it will be hard him finding a club willing to pay that amount that he would be interested in joining. Obviously PSG and Anzhi would pay that for him, possibly even Chelsea or City, but would he want to join any of them clubs? I see what you mean. I do not believe we would pay that amount for him and I wouldn't blame the club. You do not buy a player for more than you sold him for five years older. Couldn't City offer Aguero or Silva plus cash? I see how it is difficult for Ronaldo.

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - If Manchester City want Ronaldo then perhaps they could put a package together.}

Nice 1 for avoiding money questions ed.

Rodio17 {Ed002's Note - I would rather avoid discussing money as it tends to confuse folks.}

4 to 5 years of Ronaldo would easily be worth that amount and some. The only question is could we afford it.
SAF himself has said ronaldo is worth over 160m so value is not an issue surely. We would bring in a lot of extra commercial revenue as well that would pay a fair chunk of the transfer.

Dan

Dan, we wouldn't make any extra commercial revenue. Ronaldo as a package would cost the club £150m+. SAF said a 23 year old Ronaldo was worth £160m, not a 28/29 year old Ronaldo. There is no way we will spend £87m in transfers fees, a further £15m-£20m on agent fees and signing on fees, then £300k a week in wages for 4-5 years. It would be something like a £175m package.

Sydney!

With that new massive tax coming in Spain, we could pay Ronnie a lot less for him to have the same net wages. It wouldn't have to be 300k more like 250k.

Syd:
1. I'm sure agent fees would be much lower than that. The 100m euros terminates his contract then all we have to do is negotiate personal terms with him and his agent. Ed surely they wouldn't be that much?
2. Our sponsors would likely put in some cash. Particularly Nike.
3. Even a 150m package would still be value for money. More than a goal a game would guarantee us 10m minimum more revenue a year than we already have in performances on the pitch. Not to mention massively bumping up the value of our next sponsorship deal by millions. We are crying out for a left winger at the moment.

If we weren't already guaranteed with RVP, he will guarantee we are always challenging for the CL no matter whether we have a midfield or not, the financial benefits are not easy to imagine on and off the pitch but I believe it would be worth it.

Dan {Ed002's Note - Another example of why it is best to avoid discussion about money.}

Dan, I would love to see Ronaldo back at OT, but Ronaldo is not value for money. The club will not spend this amount of cash on him and I wouldn't blame them either. We could sign three top quality players between 21-23 years old for the same amount a 29 year old Ronaldo would cost.

If you consider Hazard's £32m/£34m fee meant his agent got £6m for his troubles, imagine what an £87m fee would bring Mendes? Ronaldo may compromise on his signing on fee, but would still want between £5m-£10m. These are not unrealistic numbers. Ronaldo would NOT bring in extra revenue, he would end up costing the club a bare minimum of £150m.

We have more positions that we need to strengthen than just another winger. Left-back, central midfield, a keeper & a possible CB will be needed over the next year or two. This is never going to happen and you would be building yourself up to be very disappointed if you think this will happen. At 29 he would no longer represent value for money, not when we need to strengthen other areas too.

Sydney!

Syd, he'll be 28 firstly and will be at his peak til he is in his early 30s. At least 4 years of Ronnie getting a goal a game and you say 150m ain't worth it? He would win us all sorts of trophies, if he is at the club our shirt sales will increase and we will have more scope for a larger increase in the value of our Nike sponsorship for 2015 (millions more). he would win matches for us in cups, the league etc, in my eyes if we can afford it then he's worth it, selling him to the MLS at 33 or 34 could still almost definitely raise 10 - 20m as well and he has said he would like to finish in the MLS. There are so many other financial opportunities that would present themselves that we would not be able to predict, the main reason for Rooneys wage is that he brings so much in terms of marketing Ronaldo would bring even more.

Dan

Also Syd, we have needed to strengthen CM for years what makes you think next summer will be the time?

Dan

Got to disagree Sydney. Unless Barca or Real tempt DDG, I don't see a go coming in, I don't see the need for cb with Smalling and Jones looking good for the future and Rio likely to stay one more season. And while we could definitely use a top cm, cleverly and (when fit) ando have looked good enough that it's not as urgent. By contrast, none of our wingers look any good, so I see this as the main area we need to strengthen. Not saying it'll be Ronaldo, but we really need at least one quality wide player. {Ed004's Note - If you look at our team the foundation of the team is very good. De Gea, Smalling/Rio, Vidic, Carrick, ????, Rooney and RVP. Now I rate De Gea very highly and Smalling will be a top player, hopefully as good as Rio and Vidic, Rooney and RVP would walk into nearly any top side in the world. We are badly missing two midfielders. Therefore I think they are a priority. However, I think Ferguson needs to decide what style of play we are going to implement this coming season. Is he going to go another step forward and sign a very fluid right sided player someone like Ozil and play a front 4 of Ozil, Rooney, Kagawa and RVP with Young and Valencia offering something different for when we have to sit back and defend, or is he going to keep to the traditional way of playing and sign someone like Bale and play fast direct wingers? Other than that I still think a left back is vital, someone like Baines would be excellent. Imagine a back bone of De Gea, Smalling/Rio, Vidic, Wanyama/Bender, Cabaye/Modric/Wilshere, Rooney (he would need to get into shape) and RVP. That's something teams would fear and you still have the likes of Rafael, Baines, Evans, Jones, Cleverley, Young, Valencia, Kagawa, Hernandez etc...}

Dan, no he wouldn't, the people who buy shirts by them regardless of who plays for the club. Even if more bought shirts it will not effect us when negotiating with Nike. The Nike deal will be massive with or without Ronaldo. It's pure fantasy mate.

The MLS would never pay that sort of fee for a player and four quality signings would improve us FAR more than signing Ronaldo. Re midfielders, we have tried signing midfielders and have been watching many.

Sydney!

I like it Ed but I don't think we will abandon wingers, SAF has said it goes against our tradition and he doesn't want to do that. I think an LB, a midfielder like Verrati/Modric/ Wilshere and a winger would be sensational.

Dan {Ed004's Note - Though we have seen glimpses this season with Fergie playing a front 4 of Young, Kagawa, Rooney and RVP so there is slight chance of it being implemented. Surely having back up options of Young, Zaha, and Valencia for playing away in Europe for when we have to break at pace. Although my only worry is, would Rooney be good enough to play in a fluid front 4.}

Thorne, whether you agree or not is kind of irrelevant mate. United do have an interest in Begovic and we have scouted several GK's over the past few months. Same goes for Lewandowski, people say we will not sign him because there is no room, well we are interested in him so again their opinions are irrelevant in the sense that we are interested in him and if we are interested then room will be made if he is signed. In the summer Scholes, Fletcher & Anderson will likely leave so we WILL be signing a midfielder. Ev & Ferdinand or Vidic WILL be gone either this summer or next so we will need a CB.

United cannot sit around again watching the elders get one-year extensions. We will need to keep the evolution going or come unstuck like we did in the central midfield position. We have an interest in Begovic, Baines, Lewandowski, Rodriguez & Strootman. That doesn't mean we will sign them though, but what it does mean is they are the positions that we are looking to fill.

I'm not saying your opinion is irrelevant to me, I'm saying it's irrelevant to the discussion simply because we ARE interested in those positions that you do not think we will sign.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - The problem is Syd! how many changes will Fergie make to this squad that is competing impressively on all fronts atm? I can't recall him signing more than 4 experienced players in one window. Can you see him making 5 major signings this summer? Also what to do you think of Strootman it appears he is very much a target but is he good enough for utd? He seems to be lacking a lot of pace and his passing doesn't really make up for it or his positional play.}

Ed004, United think Strootman is good enough, that's what really matters here mate. I think he is a top player personally and will keep improving. I only see United making this many changes IF (and it's a big if) Rooney is sold this summer. Nani, Lindegaard, Anderson & Rooney would raise a bare minimum of £60m and with Scholes, Rooney, Nani, Anderson etc off of the wagebill, that plus surplus funds would fund the majority of the manager's targets if those targets are available and if they agree to join the club.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - Surely if Rooney is sold you would need someone who can play in the hole and I would not play RVP there}

Kagawa?

Sydney!

Kagawa in the hole Ed? {Ed004's Note - Suppose Kagawa in the hole but without signing a wide left player you are still missing a forward player as I think that's where Kagawa will play to get game time. I think if Rooney is sold he will have to be replaced with a fluid player such as Ozil, Gotze, Isco etc. In an ideal world if Rooney and Nani are sold I'd love to see something like Ozil/Gotze/Rodriguez on the right Kagawa central and Gotze/Isco/Bale out wide left but all would be interchangeable}

How about Ronaldo on the left Ed. LOL

Dan {Ed004's Note - I wouldn't say No to that haha}

Ed sorry to go on about Ronaldo again but when you said, quote:
"If Manchester United want Ronaldo it is very clear what they need to do".

Do you mean they have to meet the 100m euro clause? Is there any chance that Perez could decide to sell him at a lower price should Ronaldo not sign a new contract this summer? I've seen reports saying we could sign him for less than 80m if he were to move.
Last Ronnie question for a week I promise.

Dan {Ed002's Note - 80M what? Why are you so interested in the past?}

80m euros, there were reports that ronaldo could leave for £60m in the summer on some websites and not the hundred million or more mark that was expected due to the fact that Ronnie is threatening to run down his contract.

Dan

20 Feb 2013 04:05:09
Do united have any interest in Luke shaw at all for left back?why keep scouting Lucas digne when shaw is playing premier league football and is just as good if not better? {Ed002's Note - There has been no interest shown in Shaw by Manchester United as far as I am aware.}

19 Feb 2013 23:53:41
There is probably a 1% chance of this happening but how good would a summer be of Wilshere, Baines, Zaha, Gotze and Fischer. I know Wilshere would probably never join us but surely he is worth trying to tempt here he is utter class. RVP get on the phone in the summer!

More like 0%

Wilshere is never going to happen. We need to face that he will be Arsenals Scholes.

But unlike Scholes he will not win anywere near if anything at Arsenal so it is more plausible than some mite say if Arsenal don't quilify for champions league for say the next two seasons would a player of Jacks ability be happy with a trophyless career I don't think so and with RVP making the cross it would be all the more likely he would be a world star here and the best option to replace Scholes every bit as good a player in the making as the ginger princes and imagine what he could lean off Scholes it is probably Jacks best option and defo for his trophy cabinet and wage packet. Katef

1% is a little optimistic in my opinion!


Jamal

They will only if fergie has the money ♪♪g, ☺

Ed I believe we went in for Wilshere a few seasons ago is that right?

Dan {Ed004's Note - Not that I can remember}